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by Klaus Weibler
Engine: CLS 350: 3.5L
V6 / CLS 500: 5.0L V8 / CLS 55 AMG: 5.5L V8 Kompressor
Retail Price: starting at Pounds 43,000 / 52,000 / 70,000 or Euros 55,000 / 67,000 / 96,000 Competing Models: "Competing Segment" on right side of "Best Autos & Cars in the World" page More information on: www.mercedes-benz.com
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The
two basic versions of the flashy Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class four-door Coupé,
the CLS 350 and the CLS 500, were launched at the Geneva Motor Show 2004.
Since spring 2005, a 476 hp AMG version of the CLS, the CLS 55 AMG, is
available – little visual parts are left over reminding you that this is
actually the E-Class coupe. The precursor to the new CLS-Class was a coupé
study which Mercedes-Benz presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show in autumn
2003. The enthusiastic public response to this four-door coupé encouraged
Mercedes-Benz to give the green light for series production. It is based
on a unique vehicle concept which for the first time combines the elegance
and dynamism of a coupé with the comfort and practicality of a saloon.
Spaciousness, luggage capacity and day-to-day practicality are at the level
of a saloon, while the design lines possess the emotionally charged character
of a coupé. With this currently unique combination, the new CLS-Class
is one coupé generation ahead.
The
CLS four-door coupé concept even allows passengers in the rear convenient
access and egress. They have the benefit of two comfortable single seats
and enjoy generous freedom of movement. There is a distance of 829 mm between
the front and rear seats, which together with the shoulder and elbow-level
width (1422 and 1464 millimetres respectively in the rear) puts the CLS-Class
firmly in saloon territory. Newly developed seats with electric adjustment
as standard are available for the driver and front passenger; on request
these can be equipped with active ventilation or as a dynamic multicontour
seat. Furthermore, the boot of the new CLS-Class holds up to 505 litres
– much more than any other coupé and even many saloons.
The
technical specification also points the way to the future, and for Mercedes-Benz
the future is always in the area of safety: in addition to adaptive front
airbags, sidebags and windowbags, the preventive occupant protection system
PRE-SAFE is available for the new Mercedes Coupé. The engine range
includes two powerful petrol units: in the CLS 350 a newly developed V6
with 200 kW/272 hp and in the CLS 500 a muscular eight-cylinder unit with
225 kW/306 hp. Both engines are partnered by the new seven-speed automatic
transmission, 7G-TRONIC, as standard. In the top CLS 500 model features
such as AIRMATIC DC air suspension and THERMOTRONIC four-zone climate control
provide S-Class levels of comfort.